We chose Astor for convenience as we could embark and disembark in Fremantle, which is close to home. We are happy to travel mid ship, in an inside cabin, and our 13 square metre cabin surprised us with its excellent design and ample storage. Just make sure your case isn't deeper than 9" (22cm) or you could be struggling to store it under the bed. The ship is spotlessly clean, staff friendly and polite (although with many European staff on board there can be some infrequent and very minor language issues). Food was good and we had many melt in the mouth offerings. Ask for more vegetables, if required, and they are happy to oblige. The bakers on board are to be complemented on their skills, including bread/rolls, pastries cakes and slices. Entertainment was first class and Astor has many very skilled musicians and dancers. During the day, at sea, scheduled activities are not as numerous as on a larger ship, but we found there was always plenty for us to do. Captain Psarrakis is very proud of his ship and staff and on one occasion he personally found a chair for me when he noticed that I was standing at a busy time in the Captains Table Bar. Captain Psarrakis also used his skills to expertly manoeuvre the ship into a safe position in Esperance, when a rolling swell meant we would not have been able to disembark at the usual anchorage site and may have missed out on going ashore. We appreciated his efforts. A voyage down the Western Australian south coast saw us within sight of the mainland all of the way and it was often pleasant to sit out on deck and watch the changing scenery. We would have no hesitation in recommending Astor to those who are keen to experience a smaller ship experience (approx. 600 passengers).